Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव च ।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च ॥
- कठोपनिषत्
Transliteration:
ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi śarīraṃ rathameva ca ।
buddhiṃ tu sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca ॥
- kaṭhopaniṣat
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Know thyself as the traveler and body as the chariot. Perceive intellect as the charioteer and mind as its reins.
Commentary:
Who should be in charge? While riding in a chariot, who should have the final say? Should it be the chariot, the charioteer, the reins or the horses! Actually, none of the above! The chariot, charioteer and the horses - all are required to take orders from the rider. He is the one who knows his goal, his destination. So, he is the one required to know the path as well. The 5 senses are the horses and the sense objects are only a few of the various paths. One can take charge of his horses and lead them in the right path, or allow his horses to stray according to their own whims and fancies, choosing their own roads towards success or downfall. When this scenario can't procure great results, then how can allowing oneself be led by his senses be appropriate?!
Hearing only what pleases the ear will not end well. For, the ear wants to hear only praises! It doesn't want to heed any advice from anyone, whether valid or not.
Seeing only what pleases the eye isn't the best choice. For, the eye only likes to see what appeals to it, not the reality of things.
Letting the tongue taste all it wants can only bring harm to the person's health. Just because the tongue doesn't relish healthy food, one can't provide it with processed convenience food that is harmful on a longer run. So on and so forth.
The best way is to let the charioteer (intellect) have the reins (mind) in his control and make sure that the intellect listens to the voyager, the Self (finding this Self itself, is a quest of many lifetimes, with a much deeper import!) Then, there will be no case of runaway horses or chariots and the traveler can safely reach his destination, of attaining liberation. When the charioteer is the Lord himself, there is no doubt that the journey, as well as the destination, become pleasant!
pada vigrahaH:
आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथम् एव च ।
ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi śarīraṃ ratham eva ca ।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहम् एव च ॥
buddhiṃ tu sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragraham eva ca ॥
Hearing only what pleases the ear will not end well. For, the ear wants to hear only praises! It doesn't want to heed any advice from anyone, whether valid or not.
Seeing only what pleases the eye isn't the best choice. For, the eye only likes to see what appeals to it, not the reality of things.
Letting the tongue taste all it wants can only bring harm to the person's health. Just because the tongue doesn't relish healthy food, one can't provide it with processed convenience food that is harmful on a longer run. So on and so forth.
The best way is to let the charioteer (intellect) have the reins (mind) in his control and make sure that the intellect listens to the voyager, the Self (finding this Self itself, is a quest of many lifetimes, with a much deeper import!) Then, there will be no case of runaway horses or chariots and the traveler can safely reach his destination, of attaining liberation. When the charioteer is the Lord himself, there is no doubt that the journey, as well as the destination, become pleasant!
pada vigrahaH:
आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथम् एव च ।
ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi śarīraṃ ratham eva ca ।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहम् एव च ॥
buddhiṃ tu sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragraham eva ca ॥
aatmaanaM rathinaM viddhi sharIraM rathameva cha ।
buddhiM tu saarathiM viddhi manaH pragrahameva cha ॥
- kaThopaniShat
aatmaanaM rathinaM viddhi sharIraM ratham eva cha ।
buddhiM tu saarathiM viddhi manaH pragraham eva cha ॥
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